Sheet-adjuster and guide for printing-presses.



W. F. O. IIGHBORNE. SHEET ADJUSTER AND GUIDE FOR PRINTING rnnssns.

' APPLICATION FILED HALF], 1909. 1,014,269.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

3 SHBETBSHEBT 1.

W. F. G. TIGHBORNE. SHEET ADJUSTER AND GUIDE FOR PRINTING PRESSHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, 1909.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. F. G. TIGHBORNB. SHEET ADJUSTER AND GUIDE FOR PRINTING PRESSES. APPLIUA'TION FILED MAR. 27, 1909.

unmeans WALTER F. C.

'rrcnnonn'n,

O]? PELHA'M, NEW YORK.

SHEET ADJUSTER AND GUIDE FOR PBINTING-PBES SES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9; 1912.

Application flied March 27, 1909. Serial No. 486,084.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER F. C. Tic-H- BoRNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pelhain, in the county of estchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Adjusters and Guides for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In certain classes of printing, particularly in color work, it is necessary that each sheet to be printed shall be placed with great exactness in relation to the plate or type, so that all the sheets shall be rinted in perfect register and the waste 0 sheets through imperfect register be avoided. To place each sheet in exact position by hand would require so much time and effort on the part of the feeder as to result in a' considerable increase in the cost of the work. Any feeder, however, can very rapidly and without special effort place sheets in approximately exact position and it is the object of this invention to provide a device which shall supplement the hand work of the feeder and adjust or correct the position of each sheet so that all sheets shall register perfectly.

The adjuster comprises a device which coacts with one of the lateral edges of each sheet, swinging it u on one or the other of the front stops, against which the forward edge of the sheet rests, until it bears against both of such stops, its proper lateral adjustment being assured at the same time. Obviously the adjuster might be applied to presses of different kinds and might be actuated by various means, but in the accompanying drawings in which for purposes of explanation, it is illustrated, itis shown as applied to an ordinary cylinder press and as actuated from a convenient moving part of the press mechanism.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a top view showing a portion of a 0 applied thereto, the drawing being broken out to save space. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail top view showing one of the tongues which support the forward edgeof the sheet while it projects beyond the feed an ordinary cylinder press WhlCh tively narrow linder press with its feed board and the improved adjuster board extensio and rests against the front stops, the latter being also shown. Fig.4 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is an enlarged top view of the adjuster and its supporting devices. Fig. 7 is an edge view ,of the parts shown in Fig. 6 with a portion of the feed board. Fig. 8 is a detail view on a still larger scale, and

'partly broken away, of the adjuster with one of its plates removed: Fig. 9 is an edge view of the adjuster. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the actuating arm.

The invention is illustrated as applied to has .the usual impression cylinder a and grippers shown) for taking rests upon'the feed board 0 and transferring it to the impression cylinder when the usual front stops (1 have been lifted out of the way. The feed board 0 is shown as provided, as usual, with the extension plate e which is brought down to a thin edge, asusual, and on a T-headed rail 0', on the underside of the extension plate e, are adjustably mounted the tongues f which extend forward of the extension portion of the sheet b which projects beyond the extension plate e -while such sheet rests against the front stops (1,

(not hold of the sheet I) as it e and support. the compara preparatory to being seized by the grippers.

In order that the ad uster may operate properly, it is desirable that the forward edge of the sheet, when it rests against one of the front stops d, as shown in Fig. 1, shall not bend down over the side of the tongue f so as to be caught under the ed e of the front stop or to have its freedom 0 movement interfered with by dragging under the edge of the front stop. There is, therefore, secured to the tongue a light sprin' f'., shown particular y in Figs. 3,

which, being secured to the undersid tongue f,.is bent upward slightly above the plane of ward to one side of the stop (1, such spring tongue yielding readily to pressure, but serving to lift slightly the sheet at the corresponding point and prevent it from being entangled under or dragging against the edge of the stop d.

e of the the tongue f and is carried for-;

tongue The sheet adjuster is locatedatone side of the feed board and is adapted to engage only one lateral edge of each sheet when released by the feeder, the adjuster having a swingmg or oscillating or generally diagonal forward movement in a. plane substantially parallel with the feed board, that is, in the plane of the sheet, and operating to push the sheet at the same time forwardly and transversely'into'a predetermined position. The sheet adjuster or shifter engages the sheet practically at one point only sov that the sheet is permitted to s ing about the point of contact with the shifter. At this time the sheetrests against one or the other of the stops (1 or against both of the stops. If the sheet rests against both of the stops, then the adjuster pushes the sheet transversely, b'utif the sheet rests against only one of the stops then the adjuster pushes the sheet transversely and forwardly at the same time, so that the sheet swings upon that stop as a fulcrum until its forward ed e rests against the other stop. After thls action the adjuster recedes\so that in the forward movement ofthe sheet, with the grippers, the edge of the sheet will not rub against the adjuster, even if the sheet is not out exactly square. The ad juster may be variously located according to convenience and the degree of inclination of the feed board, but usually at a oint slightly to the rear of. the middle 0 the side edge of the sheet. suitably timed with reference to the operation of the pressso that it shall have placed the sheet properly before the sheet is asped by the grippers or otherwise transerred to the placing -the sheet in approximate position before the action of the adjuster takes place. The adjuster may have any suitable form and may be supported and actuated by any vided with two ke v catch suitable means according to the requirements of the work to be performed. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in t e drawings, the adjuster an eccentric g mounted upon a shaft 9 between two thin concentric disks or plates 9 the edge of the cam or eccentric 9" being preferably grooved circumferentially, as at g, to prevent the possibility of-the sheet ing between the cam or eccentric and the guide disks or plates 9. Other stationary guides g and g direct the sheet between the disks or plates 9. The end 8 of: the actuating arm 8 is preferably pro- -ways 8 and 8*, shown in dotted lines in-Fig. 6 and in'full lines in Fig..-10, either of which maybe engaged with the single key of the shaft so that the adjuster may be placed at either side f the'feed board as may be convenient, the being engaged with one or the other of ey-ways according to whether the adjuster is placed on one sideof the feed board .sion cylinder carries a pinion .meshes wlth a The adjuster is A link a printing surface, the feeder g is shown as 7 bolt p and an adjustable collar 9 upon the supporting block. it by means of an adjusting screw 72?, being held in adjusted position by a thumbscrew k which 7 passes through an elongated slot h in the bar or arm 72. and through the block IL into a supporting arm or bar 6 which is. rovided with a series of threaded holes 35 for the thumb screw it. This arm or bar 6 is preferably arranged substantially parallel with the edge of the feed board and is adjustably mounted upon the feed board, having a crosshead 73 provided with elongated slots 2' to receive thumb screws 2" which are tapped into the feed board or permit a relative coarse adjustment, laterally, of the adjuster g, k effects close or fine lateral adjustment thereof. The longitudinal adjustment of the position of the adjuster is effected by engagement of the thumb screw h in one or another of the holes 2" in the arm or bar i.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sheet-shifter g is shown as actuated from a moving part of the press. As thus shown, the shaft (2' of the impresa which gear is. The latter carries a cam is which cooperates with a stud lever Z suitably pivoted on the frame press and having connectedthereto a spring Z which holds the stud 1 against the cam. connects the lever Z with an arm mon a shaft m, the arm m being slotted longitudinally,'asat m for connection with the link l", so as to permit of adjustment of the throw of the arm m. The shaft m iscarried by adjustable arms m and has longitudinally adjustable upon itself an arm n in engagement with which a block 0 is held b tachable whenever the adjuster i-s'to bedisconnected. An eye bolt 2, swiveledin the block 0', receives a rod 9 and between tlllie eyg t e ro while the adjusting screw Zone. of the' y a spring n, so as to be readily de- V g 1s a spring 9 A collar g is ap lied to o the r0d9 on the other'side he eye bolt p to limit the movement of the rod. Secured to the rod q beyond or to the eye bolt 12, as by means of the sleeve or tube in which telescopes a-rod 9 held in adjusted position by a thumb screw 9. The rod 9 is connected through a swivel and adjustable connection 9 with right of the an arm s which is secured to the adjuster mount;

shaft 9 A stop or stops 8' is or are ed on the arm or bar ltto limit/the throw of the arm 8 and therefore of the adjuster.

hrough the connections just described, the adjuster may be actuated from a moving part of the press and at the same time the posit-ionof the adjuster may be shifted to meet the requirements of the work to be percollar is a v at each operation without requiring exact adjustment of the "actuating connections and without exposing such connections to danger of breakage.

The operation of the sheet adjuster has already been explained and no further description thereof is necessary.

It will be understood that the adjuster may be varied in form and may be actuated by any suitable means, or as may be required by convenience in manufacture or the character of the press with which it is employed or the nature of the work to be done without substantially modifying the function of the adjuster in shifting the sheet at the same time both forwardly and laterally or in shifting it laterally only, as may be required by the position in which the sheet is left by the feeder and the invention, therefore, is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described herein. Thus, although the adjuster itself or shifter is described herein as oscillating, it is obvious that such oscillation is with respect to the edge of the sheet, that is, that its operative surface approaches the edge of the sheet with a forward and lateral or generally diagonal forward movement and then retires, and that the shaft which carries the adjuster might therefore have a continuous rotary movement as well as a forward and back movement.

I claim asmy invention:

1. A sheet adjuster for printing presses comprisin a shifter having a generally diagonal orward movement in the plane of the. sheet and adapted to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet and to shift the same transversely and forwardly at the same time while permitting about the point of contact with the shifter, a fixed front. stop to cooperate with the forward edge of the sheet and means to actuate said shifter.

2. A sheet adjuster for printing presses comprising a cam or eccentric mounted to oscillate in ,a plane parallel with the feed board and adapted to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet the sheet to swing and to shift the same transverselyand forwardly at the same time .while permitting the sheet to swing about the point of contact with the cam or eccentric and means to actuate said cam or eccentric.

3. A sheet adjuster for printing presses, comprising a dam or eccentric mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with the feed board and having a circumferentially grooved edge to engage one side edge of the thereon, of an oscillating sheet and to shift the same transversely and forwardly at the same time and means to actuate said cam or eccentric.

4. A sheet adjuster for printing presses, comprising a cam or eccentric mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with the feed board and adapted to engage one side edge. of the sheet and to shift the same transversely and forwardly at the same time, plates mounted on opposite sides of said camor eccentric to guide the sheet thereto and means to actuate said cam or eccentric.

5. The combination with a supporting arm adapted to be secured to the feed board .of a press longitudinally with respect thereto and a transverse arm mounted adjustably shifter su ported to enby the last named arm and adapte gage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet and to shift the sheet transversely and forwardly at the same time while permitting the sheet to swing about the point of contact with the shifter, and means to oscillate said oscillating shifter.

6. The combination with a supporting arm adapted to besecured to:the feed board of a press longitudinally with respect thereto and a transverse arm mounted adjustably thereon, of an oscillating shifter supported, by the last named arm and adapted to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet and to shift the sheet transversely and forwardly at the same time while permitting the sheet to swing about the point of contact with the shifter, a fixed front stop to cooperate with the forward edge of the sheet, and means to oscillate said oscillating shifter.

7 The combination with a printing press and its feed board, of a shifter mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with the feed board and adapted to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet and to shift the sheet transversely andforwardly at the same time while permitting the sheet to swing about the point of contact with the shifter, and means operated by a. moving part of'the press to actuate said shifter.

8. In a printing press, the combination with an impression cylinder and a feed board, of a shifter mounted to oscillate in a' plane parallel with the feed board and adapted to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the sheet and at the same time while permitting the sheet to swing about the shifter, and means operated through the rom shift the same transversely and forwardly point of contact with the tation of the cylinder to actuate said shifter.-

' 9. In a printing press, the combination with the feed board and front stops', of a shifter mounted to oscillate in a plane arallel with the feed board and adapts to engage the sheet at one point only on one side edge of the-sheet transversely and foi'w while permitting the the pomt of contact means to actuate said shifter.

10, Ina-pri ting press,

, with a cam or eccentric mo in, a plane parallelv with feed board and adapted t edge, of the sheetand' to sh verselyzand forwardl limit the movem and means operated by a press toactu eluding a y moving part of movement after the n a printingca'mor eccent m a p1 d edge of the s versely' and forward stop to limitsthe m means operated b the press to actuate sa comprising anoscillat stop. t

11. I with a and ift the same transonly on one side e the same time, a shift the sheet transversely and fonwa'rdl ent of the shifter, at the same time while permittingthe' sheet ng part of the to swing about the point'of contact with the" said means inshifter, means to actuate said shifter; a'front connection whereby the stop, a sheet supporting tongue extended ress may continue its forwardly from the feed board tosupportf ifter'has come to rest. the sheet adjacent to the stop and a supple press, the combination mental guard tongue extending vforward ate'said shifter,

ane parallel with th ovement. of

wmm:

shift the same. eye, a 'rod. passed freely through said eye" ardly at the same time and a spring interposed between ,said e e sheet'to swing about and an abutment on the rod whereby't e witli thfe shifter, and moving part of thepress may continue-its movement after the shifter has cometo rest.

the combination 1-2. In a printing press,- the combination. unted .to oscillate of a feed board, a shifter mountedto the plane of the late in a plane parallel with the feed-"board o engage one sideand adapted toenga ezthe sheet at one point the shifter v y a moving part c Signed in the presence of.u d shifter, said means g arm carrying an 1 ge of the sheetand to no mounted to oscillate alongside the supporting tongue andat'the 4 e plane of the "side of the stop. jj ted to engage oneside This s ecification signed and witnessed to shift the 'same'transthis 22d ay of March, A. D. 1909. 1 

